My grandparents, Dwight and Betty Johnson Farnworth, were diligent journal writers their entire lives, for which I am blessed and grateful! I find so much goodness and strength as I read their entries. Not that life was rosy and smooth for them, far from it. But, to watch them press forward with faith and hope and perseverance anyway gives me fortitude in my own life.
The Stroke
In 1997, my grandma Betty had a stroke. After this medical emergency, she could no longer speak, eat, walk, or really function on her own at all for a while. My grandfather, Dwight, lovingly and diligently brought her to her doctor and therapy appointments almost on a daily basis for many months.
Then in mid-November of 1997, the therapist said that Dwight knew enough about her care and she had gained back enough autonomy for him to continue her care at home. Through his journal entries, the sweet story comes to light of his tireless, selfless service to his beloved wife.
The entries Have been abridged to reflect just aspects of dwight’s care of betty after her stroke.
November 1997
I took Betty to the therapist at 1 this afternoon. She said… that Betty was healed enough for me to take over. That I knew enough about how to rub her down and exercise her from what I had watched her do and doing it on the days we didn’t go to her…
We went to [the first church] meeting then Betty wanted to come home so I brought her. I helped her in the house and she had trouble keeping her balance as she walked up the steps from the garage to the kitchen, so I stayed home with her…
December 1997
Betty is having such a hard time sleeping at night. She wanders from the bed in the bedroom to the two chairs and the sofa in the front room… I feel so sorry for her. During the day and night, she often has me massage her back. It seems to help for a while…
I took [Betty] to Mary’s to get her hair done at one this afternoon. She was so weak and unable to walk by herself that I brought her into the shop, then stayed so I would be able to help her if she had any trouble… When we came home she was so weak I had to be so careful of her…
I then called [my daughter]. The reason I called her was just to have someone to talk to. When I talk to mom [Betty], I just talk to myself because mom just can’t talk and put things into words. I felt so much better after… It was just good to have someone to talk to about Betty…
I hate to see her suffer so… She seems to hurt all over. She gets to feeling better during the day but when she starts to go to bed at night, she really has a time. She gets all out of breath and loses her strength. I’ve even suggested that she don’t go to bed but that she just sleeps the night in her chair that moves her up and down…
To be continued…
I hope you enjoyed that bit of family history as I did. See you again soon with another story from the past.
Melissa
